Pearse Lyons Distillery

Irish whiskey is enjoying a great revival, with distilleries popping up all over the country. It is a refreshing turn-around after the industry almost went extinct, but creates a unique challenge for whiskey enthusiasts travelling to Ireland: which distilleries are worth a stop? Let’s discover if Pearse Lyons Distillery in Dublin should be on your Dublin to-do list.

Two-in-one experience

When visiting the authentic Liberties of Dublin, the city's enterprise and innovation centre, guests have many attractions to choose from: St Patrick's Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse, old-school markets, and fun eateries and cafés. The Liberties is also home to the prominent Pearse Lyons Distillery, but you might not have heard of it, though.

Pearse Lyons Distillery offers both–a good whiskey and a great story. Not only is the distillery in a church, but their whiskey is going to be widely discussed in the future. The distillery offers a revealing insight into the craft of creating an award-winning Pearse Whiskey. Distilling started five years ago, so whiskey with older age statements was sourced. But it is not without Pearse Lyons’ spin. Some sourced whiskey, like the 12-Year-Old Single Malt, was re-casked in Town Branch barrels. They are also blending some of the older, sourced whiskey with their whiskey, like in the Marriage of Malt, which is a favourite among guests. At the St. James Church, they only distil malt whiskey and source all the grain whiskey. The grains are from their own farm in County Mead, and the ex-bourbon barrels come from the sister distillery.

At Pearse Lyons, whiskey is double distilled. The notion that Irish whiskey must be triple distilled is a myth. Local guides call it a “marketing campaign from the 60s.” But Pearse Lyons’ hybrid still gets the equivalent of 2.5 distillations, so it’s almost triple distilled.

The distillery, named after its founder and whiskey innovator Dr. Pearse Lyons, opened in 2017. Born from passion and family tradition, Pearse and his wife Deirdre aspired to create a distillery like no other in Dublin. You will be impressed by the Lyons family's dedication to restoring and repurposing the former church into the home of Pearse Whiskey. Pay homage to five generations of coopers in Dublin and explore the art of Irish Whiskey distillation.

Church transformation

Irish whiskey was once the most popular spirit in the world, and the Liberties area in Dublin was the centre of brewing and distilling. Forty whiskey distilleries once thrived in a one-mile radius known as the Golden Triangle. The area also houses several churches, inspiring the nickname Yells, Smells, & Bells. Yells from workers, bells from churches, and smells from the whiskey. In the 1890s, Ireland had over 30 distilleries; by 1975, most had closed. In recent years, along with the growing popularity of Irish Whiskey, this historic area of Dublin has begun to flourish, with many distilleries opening and producing a variety of spirits for all tastes. Founded in 2017 and unusually located in the restored church, Pearse Lyons Distillery calls Dublin’s Liberties district home. 

Today, a revival is sweeping through the Golden Triangle, with several distilleries and breweries now opening in the area. The founder, Dr Pearse Lyons, wanted his distillery to be part of the Golden Triangle, so he chose St. James Cathedral as the site of his distillery. Shortly after Dr. Lyons and his wife purchased the old church with plans to transform it into a distillery, it was designated a historical site. That meant it had to be restored using authentic methods. As the church was initially built in 1859, the methods used at that time do not exist nowadays.

So, the Lyons had to get creative. They paid the original quarry in Wales to reopen and make replacement slate tiles to restore the roof. Only three companies still make plaster, so they contracted one in Germany. Ultimately, it took more than four years and around €35 million. Today, the church is beautiful inside and out. Traditional stained glass now depicts parts of the whiskey-making process. Copper stills and a wooden bar are tucked beneath the church arches, and bar tables replaced rows of pews. Seeing inside it is a must.

Extra historical tour

The Pearse Lyons Distillery is located in Dublin’s central area, only five minutes from The Guinness Storehouse. It’s not far from Dublin’s touristy area and lets you take in the Liberties neighbourhood, including other churches and historic brewing and distilling sites. The visit begins in the beautiful visitor centre, which is mostly glass and perfectly complements its historic surroundings. Here, you can enjoy interactive displays while waiting for your tour to begin. They illustrate the history of St. James Church, The Liberties Dublin, archaeological finds during restoration, and the rebirth of whiskey distillation in the area. Unlike many distilleries, Pearse Lyons distillery is toured in the context of the geographical region and its history. Visitors love the extra historical bits offered here.

While the current St. James Church dates to 1859, the site as a religious area dates back to the 1100s. Initially a Protestant church, the St. James Church ceased operation and fell into disrepair when all the Protestants left Dublin. During the church's restoration, they discovered that the surrounding cemetery contained much more than it looked. There are 100,000 burials there, dating back to the 1400s! Even more interesting, they discovered that Dr. Lyons’ grandfather was born just down the street and buried in the cemetery.

Dr. Pearse Lyons had an impressive background, starting with biochemistry and ending as the first Irish man to receive a Master’s Degree in both brewing and distilling. His resume is equally impressive. Dr. Lyons restored the Lexington Brewing Company in Kentucky, now the largest brewery in the state. Then, in 2012, he opened Town Branch Distillery, making bourbon, rye, and malt whiskey. A sister distillery in Kentucky provides Pearse Lyons with plenty of ex-bourbon barrels for ageing their Irish whiskey. The Distillery in Dublin sells bottles of Town Branch bourbon and rye, while Town Branch Distillery in Kentucky sells bottles of Pearse Lyons Irish whiskey!